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Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, Southern California


JBBenson

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I am trying to do the "Distinguished Gentleman's" ride this year.

 

Sunday, September 27th, 2015

 

Who wants to represent?

 

We could create a team.

 

 

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The event sounds fun.  Prostate cancer is bad. :moon:  A cure would be good.  

I just registered at https://www.gentlemansride.com/ - because you can't see the details of the ride till you register.  :angry2:

 

It says they leave at 11am and go from Pasadena to Downtown LA. I need to be at LAX by about 2:30 to catch a flight to Chicago. I am interested, but perhaps a bit logistically challenged as I will need to bring some baggage. Won't be able to stay for the after-party.

 

I guess our Guzzis would belong in the "Modern Classics" category, since the "Cafe Racer" category description starts with "light-weight".   :whistle:

 

If I can't figure out my logisitics, I'll sponsor you.

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The day started hot. Then things got hotter.

 

Start at City Hall, Pasadena, CA

 

dgr_start_sm.jpg

 

JB at the start, still looking fresh. That didn’t last long.

 

jb_dgr_sm.jpg

 

Scud at the start, looking natty. This is after a 1.5 hour ride to get there. Seriously, he looked just like this even after the hot and sweaty event. How does he do it? Must be the Öhlins suspension.

 

scud_sm.jpg

 

Scud hunted for other V11’s, and found this red & grey Sport, which kept stalling when we all pulled out.

So embarrassing! I pretended I didn’t know him.

 

3_v11s_sm_2.jpg

 

During the ride, we fully explored the potential of first and second gear of the V11. A ton of Triumphs. A few two-strokes, zipping around like angry insects. Yahoos on Harleys. Some things never change.

 

The end party, downtown L.A. . Parking was not thought-out very well. But, who cares? Everybody squeezed in. It was fun. 

 

dgr_end_sm.jpg

 

I am expecting a better showing of Guzzis next time. In all black, like the Mob.

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Thanks for posting the pics. Fun day - foggy start in San Diego this AM.

 

The queue at the start was eye-candy. 400+ bikes and almost all of them specialty, vintage, or customized. Maybe 6 Guzzis - not sure I caught them all. All the bikes starting at the same time... thunderous. The ride through LA was well coordinated by police escort. It looked like a river of bikes - no stopping. In crowded places, such as Hollywood Boulevard, people were cheering and a lot of them had their phones out to take pictures.

 

I felt kind of outlaw running so many red lights. Then I imagined being a car driver, stuck at a green light while waiting for 400 bikers to roll through the reds. The red-light traffic cameras were flashing pictures as we waved (in a gentlemanly way) for our citation photos, which I imagine will not be sent to us.

 

Grabbed a 1/2 beer at the finish - then my saddle bags (which I dropped this AM at the finish point) and zipped over to LAX, where I had a proper pint. Wore the bow tie on the plane to Chicago (where I am now).

 

Hope to be able to participate again next year.

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The day started hot. Then things got hotter.

 

 

Scud at the start, looking natty. This is after a 1.5 hour ride to get there. Seriously, he looked just like this even after the hot and sweaty event. How does he do it? Must be the Öhlins suspension.

 

 

A little known feature of the Öhlins components is that they provide a Scandinavian, subarctic wind while riding.

 

Here's another photo of the start in Pasadena:

 

IMG_3692.jpg

 

This was better than most of the bikes shows I've been to. Two S&S powered Morgans, vintage sidecars, 1930s BMWs, 1970s Nortons, Royal Enfields, etc.........  :P:  

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